Flexible rotary cylindrical brush



Nov. 9, 1954 w. A. LOMBARDI I 2,693,611

FLEXIBLE ROTARY CYLINDRICAL BRUSH Original Filed Oct. 1l, 1946 v l I.

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United States Patent @Hice 2,693,611 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 FLEXIBLE POTARY CYLINDRICAL BRUSH William A. Lombardi, Derby, Conn.

Continuation of abandoned application Serial No. 702,767, Getober 11, 1946. This application March 25, 1953, Serial No. 344,632

12 Claims. (Cl. 15--1'04.09)

My invention relates to butling and scouring devices, and in particular to rotating elements as employed in cleaning the inner walls of pipes, ttings and the like. This application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 702,707, iiled October 11, 1946, and now abandoned.

In many industries, as in the dairy industry, it is desirable, if not imperative, frequently to remove contaminating matter from the inner walls of pipes and other iittings. It has been customary to clean straight pipes by means of a motor-driven rotating brush element, but no satisfactory means have been available for cleaning elb ows and other curved or irregularly shaped sections of pipe.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide an improved pipe-cleaning device which may be employed to scour the inner walls of both straight and curved sections of pipe.

It is another object to provide a exible means for driving and holding a plurality of sizes of flexible brushes adaptable to the cleaning of a corresponding plurality of plpe sizes.

It is a more specific object to provide a iiexible scouring element of the character indicated in which the drive to the scouring element is positive and yet free enough to permit maximum exing without such binding as to inhibit flexing.

Other objects and various further features of the invention will occur to vthose skilled in the art or will appear from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an assembled unexed scouring device incorporating features of the inventlon;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the device in a exed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in partial section showing details of the cooperation of parts in the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the device of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an end element of the assembly of Fig. 1; and

Fig.V 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified assembly according to the invention.

Broadly speaking,` my invention contemplates an axially flexible rotary scouring means having an eifectively continuous axial passage. A flexible shaft is passed through this passage to support the scouring means, and means are provided for coupling the shaft' to the scouring means and to a suitable drive mechanism. In the specific forms to be described, the scouring means is a helically wound brush element having radially outwardly extending scouring bristles, and helical or partially circumferentially extending lips on end fittings carried by the shaft engage the ends of the scouring element.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawings, my in'- vention is shown in application to an assembly in which a generally cylindrical helically wound scouring element 10 is supported on an axially exible shaft 11. In the form shown, the scouring element 10 comprises a generally helical base or binder 12 having an outwardly extending continuous groove 13 to receive scouring bristles 14. The bristles 14 may be securely held within the groove 13 by employment of a wire core (not shown) about which the bristles are wrapped, with bristle-ends projecting out of the groove 13, and the outer edges dened by the groovek 13 may be crimped against the bristles. The brush element 10. may be formed with a relatively tightly wound helix or with a loose helix, but in any event it should define in effect a shaft-receiving passage. The spaces between turns should be such as to permit free and nonbinding exing of the assembled device, as will be clear.

The flexible shaft 11, in addition to being axially flexible, is also preferably torsionally stiif, for the better transmission of power to the brush 10. Such a exible shaft may comprise a plurality of concentric spirals of tightly wound wire, with radially adjacent layers being oppositely wound. For example, the outer layer may be formed with a so-called right-handed progression, while an adjacent inner layer may be formed with a left-handed progression.

If the brush 10 is to be continuously rotated in one direction, it is clear that there is only need for securing it to the driving mechanism at one end. However, I

prefer, and in the drawings I show, means for coupling both ends of the liexible brush 10 to both ends of the ilexible shaft 11. At the driven end this coupling is effected through an adapter or stop member 15 of generally cylindrical shape. The adapter 15 is preferably provided with a lip 16 defining a groove 17 which may be like a bayonet slot or helicaly and which may thus more or less threadedly receive one end of the brush element 10. The adapter 15. may also be provided with a shaft-receiving bore 18, open to the same end as that having the lip 16. For drive purposes, the other end 0f the adapter 15 may include suitable threaded means 19 to engage a drive shaft or other fitting. Securing means such as set screws 20-21 may be provided to clamp the adapter 15 securely to the driven end of the shaft 18.

At the other end of my flexible brush assembly, a coupling or stop member 22 may engage and effectively couple both the brush 10 and the ilexible shaft 11. In the form shown, the coupling 22 is provided with a shaft-receiving bore 23, and the coupling 22 may be permanently secured to the shaft 11 as by sweating these two elements together within the bore 23. As in the case of the adapter 15, the coupling 22 preferably includes a lip 24 defining a groove 25, 'similar to the groove 17, which may more or less threadedly receive the other end of the brush 10.

To assemble my flexible brush, the unit comprising the coupling 22 sweated to the exible shaft 11 is rst passed through the continuous axial passage of a exible brush 10 of size selected for the pipe size to be cleaned. The adapter 15 may then be slipped over the free or driven end of the shaft 11. Theassembly may be completed by twisting the coupling 22 against the adapter 15 so as to thread the lips 16 and 24 into the respective ends of the flexible brush 10. This threading process maybe assisted by applying a wrench to flats V26 milled in the periphery of the coupling 22. A tightening of the set screws 20 and 21 will then serve to maintain the described assembled relationship.

It is a property of the type of exible blush 10 which has been described that in a flexed or curved position as assumed in Fig. 2, the ends of the brush 10,will have become slightly angularly displaced with respect to each other. if the coupling 22 and the adapter 15 had been tightly threaded into the ends of the brush 10 upon assembly, that is, if no clearance had been left between an end of thel brush and theV end of one of the grooves 17 and 25, this slight angular displacement of the brush ends might produce a binding force tending to inhibit free flexing of the character illustrated in Fig. 2. It is for this reason that a slight clearance is to be preferred within at least one of the grooves 17 and 25. With such clearance it is clear that while rotating at a continuous driven speed, the brush assembly may freely assume any shape dictated by the inner contour of the plumbing which is being cleaned.

In the above description, the end of the flexible assembly nearest to the drive-adapter litting 15 has been referred to as the driven end', and it may have been implied that the other end, is notl driven. Actually, my flexible assembly may be rotated in a direction which is either with or opposite to the spiral progression of the helix of thebrush 10. However, I prefer that rotation be opposite to the progression of the helix; that is, for

a right-handed helix the rotation is preferably counterclockwise in the right-to-left sense of the drawings, and for a left-handed helix the rotation is preferably clockwise. This preferred rotation means that driving torques are primarily supplied to the brush element at its front (left, in the sense of Fig. l) end via coupling 22 and its torsionally stiff connection to the adapter 15.

In some applications, particularly when it is necessary to employ relatively large diameter brush elements 10, it may be desirable to provide substantial radial clearance between the inner walls of the brush element 10 and the exible shaft 11 (see Fig. 6), such construction permitting maximum axial flexibility of the assembly. In such cases, it is preferable to locate the brush ends coaxially with the end fittings, that is, with the drive adapter 27 and the front coupling (not shown). Coaxial location may be obtained by threading the helical core 12 upon a spiral or partially circumferentially extending groove 28 in the periphery of adapter 27, whereby the supported end of the brush 10 is effectively bushed, as will be clear.

Further in accordance with the invention, i` provide means for continuously supplying soap solution or other cleansing or washing uids to the area being scoured. In the form shown, such means may include one or more generally longitudinally extending ducts 29 formed in the adapter 27. lf cleansing fluids are to be supplied via the interior of a hollow drive shaft to be threadedly received in the adapter 27, then the ducts 29 preferably communicate between the base of the threaded portion 3l) and the brushsupporting end 31 of the adapter. It will be clear that fluids introduced through the ducts 29, preferably under pressure, will be centrifugally flung outwardly so as to distribute them effectively over the areas being scoured.

It will be appreciated that I have described a relatively simple device which may effectively be employed to clean both straight and curved sections of piping. The unit may be readily disassembled for cleaning purposes or for replacement with various sizes of brush elements 10.

While the invention has been described in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character indicated, an axially exible generally cylindrical helical scouring means including a helical binder and outwardly projecting bristles carried by said binder, said binder having a continuous axial passage, torsionally rigid, axially flexible shaft means in said passage, and coupling means including a helical lip, said coupling means being connected to said shaft means, said lip being formed at substantially the radius of said binder and threadingly receiving one end of said scouring means for coupling said shaft means to said end of said scouring means, and said coupling means further including means for connection to a rotating drive, support means for the other end of said scouring means and fixed to said shaft means, said coupling means and said support means each including means for rotary abutment with the respective ends of said scouring means, said scouring means having an axial length substantially equal to the axial spacing between both said means for rotary abutment, there being such relative angular placement of said coupling means and of said support means with respect to the relative angular spacing of the ends of said scouring means that when said scouring means is in driven abutment with one of said abutment means and when said scouring means is in an unbent position there is a clearance between said scouring means and the other of said abutments, the other end of said scouring means being free for at least partial rotation upon partial relative rotation of the ends of said scouring means, whereby, when rotated in a pipe bend, said scouring means may be relieved of any tendency to bind.

2. A device according to claim l, in which said shaft means extends through said passage and is substantially co-extensive therewith, and in which said support means is on the projecting free end of said shaft means.

3. In a device of the character indicated, an axially flexible generally helical scouring element having a continuous axial passage, an axially exible and torsionally stiff shaft in said passage, circumferentially projecting lip means carried by one end of said shaft and interlockingly engaged with the adjacent end `of said helical element, and circumferentially projecting lip means carried by said shaft and interlockingly engaged with the other end of said helical element, said last-mentioned means including adjustable means for adjustably securing the same to said flexible shaft, one of said interlockingly engaged means being freely slidingly engaged with said scouring element, said one interlockingly engaged means including abutment means limiting the free-sliding relative rotation accompanying engagement, and the freesliding engaging end of said scouring element being spaced from said abutment means when the brush and shaft are unbent, for the purpose described.

4. In a device of the character indicated, an axially flexible helical scouring element including a helical binder with a continuous axial passage, torsionally rigid, axially exible shaft means in said passage, and two spaced coupling adapters iixed to said shaft means at spaced locations, each of said adapters including a helically projecting lip at substantially the radius of said binder and in threaded engagement with an end of said binder, abutment means within each of the helical slots defined by said lips, the abutment means of said adapters being spaced apart by an amount exceeding the effective thickness of said binder times the number of turns of said scouring element, whereby said adapters engage the respective ends of said scouring element with the turns of said binder spaced from each other, and there being a clearance between a binder end and the abutment means adjacent thereto, for partial relative rotation of one end of said binder with respect to the adapter engaged thereto.

5. In a device of the character indicated, a helically wound brush element having a continuous axial passage and including radially outwardly extending scouring bristles, a torsionally rigid, axially iiexible shaft in said passage, means coupling each end of said brush element to said shaft. said means including a rst abutment in rotational driving engagement with one end of said helical element and limiting said one end against rotation relatively to said shaft at said abutment, whereby said brush element may be positivelv driven by said iirst abutment, said means further including a lip defining a partially circumferentiallv extending groove for receiving the other end of the helical winding of said brush elements on relative rotation of said lip and of said helical Winding, a second abutment limiting the angular extent of said groove, there being anv angular clearance between said second abutment and the other end of said helical winding for relatively free absorption of small relative angular displacements of said other end and of said lip, so that said device will not bind when rotated within a conduit bend.

6. In a device of the character indicated. an axially flexible helical scouring element having inner limits defining a continuous generally tubular axial passage of a first effective diameter, torsionally stiff and axially flexible shaft means in said passage, said shaft means being of a diameter substantially less than said first diameter, two spaced supporting means radially supporting opposite ends of said scouring element at spaced parts of said shaft means and concentrically therewith` whereby said passage may substantially radially clear said shaft means, one of said supporting means including coupling means coupling the corresponding end of said scouring element to said shaft means, said coupling means including an abutment in rotational driving engagement with said corresponding end of said securing element and limiting said corresponding end against rotation relatively to said shaft at said abutment, the other end of said scouring element being freely slidable on the other supporting means when the scouring element and shaft are unbent, whereby binding in a curved conduit may be avoided.

7. In a device of the character indicated, torsionally rigid, axially flexible shaft means, an axially flexible helical slouring element surrounding said shaft means, a first stop secured to one part of said shaft means and having means slidably mounting an end of said scouring element, said stop also having means for rotary abutment with said end of said scouring element upon relative rotation of said element and said stop in one direction, and a second stop secured to another part of said shaft means and having means slidably mounting the other end of said scouring element, said second stop also having means for rotary abutment with said other end of said scouring element upon relative rotation of said element and said means in the opposite direction, said scouring element having an axial length substantially equal to the axial spacing between both said means for rotary abutment, there being such relative angular placement of said stops with respect to the relative angular spacing of the ends of said scouring element that when said scouring element is in driven abutment with one of said stops and when said brush is in an unbent position there is a clearance between said element and tbe other of said stops, for the purpose described.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which one of said stops includes means for attachment to a rotatable drive and has an internal duct communicating between said attachment means and the end of said stop adjacent said scouring element.

9. .In a device of the character indicated, an axially exible generally helical scouring element including a helical binder having a continuous axial passage, torsionally rigid, axially ilexible shaft means in said passage and including at the ends of said passage coupling means for supporting spaced apart locations on said binder, said coupling means including an element interlockingly engaged with an end of said binder upon rotation relatively thereto, one of said coupling means including means for connection to a rotating drive, the turns of said binder when connected to said coupling means being spaced from each other and there being a clearance between said binder and said shaft means; whereby said scouring element may, within limits permitted by such spacing and clearance, relatively freely adapt itself to pipe bends While driven in rotation.

10. A device according to claim 9, in which said clearance is radial between said binder and said shaft means at a location intermediate said coupling means.

11. A device according to claim 9, in which said clearance is angular between one end of said binder and an abutment part of said interlockingly engageable element for free sliding accommodation of movement of said one end in said clearance.

12. In a device of the character indicated, an axially flexible helical scouring element including a helical binder having a continuous axial passage of a rst effective diameter, and torsionally rigid and axially flexible shaft means of a diameter less than said rst diameter in said passage and including at the ends of said passage coupling means for supporting spaced apart locations on said binder, said coupling means including means connecting said shaft to the respective ends of the binder of said scouring element, the turns of said binder when connected to said coupling means being spaced from each other, whereby said scouring element may, within limits permitted by such spacing and by the clearance between said diameters, relatively freely adapt itself to pipe bends while driven in rotation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,826 Gladding Sept. 19, 1882 598,602 Keesee Feb. 8, 1898 1,693,134 Brendlin Nov. 27, 1928 1,704,364 Markley Mar. 5. 1929 1,780,436 Miller Nov. 4, 1930 1,959,940 Tyrrell May 22, 1934 2,009,496 Johnson July 30, 1935 2,074,213 Deem Mar. 16, 1937 2,232,358 Baerer Feb. 18, 1941 2,281,412 Cave et al. Apr. 28, 1942 2,312,591 Rowland Mar. 2, 1943 2,332,490 Rowland Oct. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 277,801 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1927 365,261 Great Britain Ian. 21, 1932 

